Lighting How To

Instructor Andy Parkinson is a National Geographic photographer and Nikon Ambassador who has traveled the world to capture stunning imagery under just about every lightning condition imaginable. He's also very generous about sharing the secrets to his amazing work that have earned him over 130 domestic and international awards.

We all know that photography is all about light, and even the best cameras make mistakes rendering what they "see"—yielding images that are either too bright or too dark. If, like most of us, you prefer nailing exposure in the camera (instead of fixing things in post), you've come to the right place.

There are numerous reasons for poorly exposed photos when shooting in the field under difficult lighting conditions, including harsh light, dark foregrounds, and bright washed-out skies to name a few. When you're faced with challenges like these, photos often  turn out to be a compete mess.

Everyone loves photo hacks, especially when it comes to lighting techniques that some photographers find confusing. If that sounds like you, keep reading because you’ll see how to easily create eye-popping portraits in less time that it takes to read this piece.

Shutterbug reader Larry Young has managed to freeze a moment in time and transform a drop of water into an alien universe all from the comfort of his garage. So, how did he do it?

There are two important facts about flash photography that everyone should understand: The first is that a simple external flash mounted atop a camera (or used remotely for even better results), can make a huge difference in photographs when shooting indoors or out. Number two is that the use of an accessory flash is much easier than most photographers think.

I doubt anyone could foresee the rapid changes digital technology has brought to photography. As a veteran of the business (40+ years), we have come a long way from the match-needle metering and manual flash units of the past. Heck, I can remember when thyristor circuits were a big deal because they could help us automate flash exposures.